Reply from Karmarama

Thank you for taking time to email us on this distressing matter. I can assure you that we are all equally shocked at the distasteful, insensitive and entirely inappropriate messages conveyed in our name.
A colleague who had witnessed two horrendous cycling accidents in London, both of which resulted in the deaths of the cyclists, instigated this initiative. As a passionate cyclist, these tragedies have affected the individual deeply, and we can only presume encouraged this personal action. However, this was an entirely personal action, neither sanctioned nor supported by this company or our clients. The person responsible fully accepts it was wrong to do this, and apologises profusely to all fellow cyclists and anyone who has been distressed by this misguided and inappropriate initiative.
On behalf of the agency, we would like to add our apologies. We fully support cycling, have dozens of colleagues who cycle to work each day - and have never shared the position expressed in this campaign.
From Karmarama

Dan (*******@****.com) has just left the following message: Regarding the cycling campaign, thanks for making riding more dangerous. Most of us don't ride like twats, but all you've achieved is to legitimise the anti-cycling mindset of the idiots who like to run us off the road...

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thereandbackagain[173 posts]5 years ago

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Alright, I think questions need to be asked of that response.

If it wasn't sanctioned by Karmarama, why is the URL contact name a Karmarama employee?

And why is the URL registrant organisation HS&P Ltd?

If it was a personal action, why isn't registered to an individual, rather than under the auspices of an organisation who are denying it was anything to do with them?

If it was a personal action, why was the Karmarama brand on the physical signs around London?

This "rogue employee" excuse is one certain newspapers have tried to pull in recent times...

We're very sorry for the offence caused by our efforts to create debate around the critical issue of cycling safety.

We're hugely pro-cycling and wanted to do something that would highlight the plight of cyclists on the road, as well as open up a debate about some of the less smart practices a minority of cyclists follow, like jumping red lights.

Again, sorry for the offence caused, it won't happen again.

And again repeatedly on their twitter:

Quote:

Sorry for the offence caused by our attempts to highlight the issue of cycling safety. We made a big mistake

Sorry for the offence caused by our attempts to highlight the issue of cycling safety. We made a big mistake

If they really wanted to do something about cycle safety there are FAR better ways to do it! What they did was just an exercise in name-calling and abuse and no amount of excuses (nice try with the 'loose cannon' angle) or sweet-talking after they were rumbled will change that.